Therapeutic applicator



July 19, 1960 J. E. HARVEY THERAPEUTIC APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 2, 1958 INVENTOR d- E. HARVEY United States Patent 6 2,945,492 THERAPEUTIC APP cATOR Joseph E. Harvey, 1016 Santa Anita Road, Orlando, Fla.

Filed Dec. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 777,652

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-33) This invention relates to the care of the human anatomy including the maintenance of the various parts and areas thereof in healthy condition so that they will function normally and excess bulk or weight will not accumulate about the hips, at the waist and in other areas including around the, heart and other vital organs to interfere with the functioning thereof.

The invention relates particularly to a therapeutic applicator by means of which treatment may be administered physically to parts of the body to compensate at least to a degree for the lack of use or neglect of the same to maintain them in healthful condition without such treatment being too rough, drastic or in any way interfering with the normal operations of the various organs of the body.

Modern living with its improved facilities, highly specialized routine, increased tensions and aging, has resulted in the neglect of portions of the body resulting in increased nervous tensions, and without the proper physical stimulation and exercise this condition becomes serious resulting in obesity interfering with the functioning of the heart, brain, and other vital organs.

It is an object of the invention to provide a therapeutic applicator for mechanically kneading or manipulating, whereby a reciprocable or orbital type motion or both be used either independently or simultaneously as de sired on portions of the human body and similar to treatment given in a massage by the human hand in order to reduce the size, constitution or bulk of such portions and for the further benefit derived by the general promotion or improvement of the entire respiratory, circulatory, and nerve systems of the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated including a simple and inexpensive structure to be composed essentially of a central table portion and a pair of identical extensions applicable one on each of the opposite sides thereof, such central portion having a series of pads for supporting the portion of the body to be treated, mechanism for imparting motion to said pads, and a motor for driving the same. Such intermediate portion also being supported at a higher elevation to insure positive engagement of the body thereover and such central portion having an electronically controlled panel for positive control of the operating mechanism and selection of the type of motion employed, as well as a timer to control the duration thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a therapeutic applicator which will be gentle in its operation, which is timed below the normal heartbeat so that anyone with a heart or other organic disorder may safely use it to obtain a localized manipulation for the beneficial toning effect derived therefrom.v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a section on line 3.-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4, a fragmentary detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the manner of fastening the end tables. in position.

Briefly stated, the therapeutic applicator of the present invention comprises a three-part table, the central sec= tion of which is relatively sturdy and embodies the operating mechanism with a pair of detachable extension tables of similar character, one at each side of such central sec tion. The latter includes a box or housing with a motor,

driving through a universal joint and reduction gearing,

a rotary member and one of a series of universally mounted, generally rectangular, manipulating pads with an orbital movement of its upper slightly convexly curved surface, the mounting of such pads including a series of depending posts pivotally supported by a rocker bar and linked together so that they move alike, the motor being provided with a control switch and a timer. 4 With continued reference to the drawing, the therapeutic applicator of the present invention comprises a series of generally rectangular pads 10 mounted above the house ing 1 1. An extension table may be disposed at each side of the housing and composed of a cushion 12 on a mounting plate or sheet 13 carried by a generally L-shaped base '14, with a pair of reinforcing braces 15 one at each end of the horizontal portion of the table and with a'downwardly turned portion provided with legs connected at the bottom by cross member 16.

The ends of the L-shaped base 14 are provided with looking pins 17 which fit into openings 18 of the h llS.- ing 11 being provided with spring pressed detents 17-. connected by a spring 17" which extends outwardly through openings 18' and the pin 18, a retractor tube 19 being located within the pin 18 and being pressed outwardly by a spring 19' to expose an operating head 19''. In attaching the sides of the generally Lishaped base the pins 17 are inserted until the projections 17' extend out; wardly to engage the rear side of thehousing 11 so that the parts are locked in assembled relation. To remove the pins and disconnect the parts all that is necessary-is that the button 19 be pressed to force the sleeve 19 onto the U-shaped spring 17 to retract the projections 17'. g

The applicator pads 10 preferably are composed of a base 21 carrying a cushion 21' and an outside fabric'21" without sharp angles or corners which might cause dis;

1 comfort. -The pads are mounted on a supporting plate 22 generally rectangular and with the length corresponding to that of the pad on which it is mounted;

E ch bas ,1 i s c r by bo ts or o her f st ners23 on a supporting bracket 2'4 having a shank or lever arm 25 disposed at right angles thereto and mounted on a pivot forming bolt 26 carried by a rocker bar of; opposed angle members 27, spacers 28 being provided for maintaining the angle bars 27 spaced apart slightly more than the thickness of the shanks 25 so that such shanks may rock freely on the pivots 26.

The angle members 27 are connected at their ends by means of a pivot block 29 (Fig. 2) having a cylindrical terminus 30 at each end fitting in a bearing sleeve 31 attached to a supporting strut 32 carried by the housing 11. The rocker bar is thus mounted for oscillatory movement so that the pads, one of which has been described, will be rocked a short distance endwise with the movement of the rocker bar.

In order to reduce such movement the lower end of the depending shaft 25 is provided with internal threads 34 for reception of a fastener 36 therein by means of a lock nut 35. The threaded shank of the fastener 36 carries a spherical head 37 in a bearing 28 in a socket 39 in a rotary member 40 secured by a setscrew 41 on a shaft 42 forming part of a reduction gearing 43 through a universal joint 44 from a motor 45.

The reduction gearing and motor are carried by a shelf or support 46, the reduction gearing 43 and motor carrying bracket 47 being attached to the shelf by means of bolts 48. The shelf 46 is mounted by brackets 49 to the support 33 attached to the strut 32 of the housmg.

The several shanks 25 are joined by a connecting bar 50 and pivot bolts 51 show that all of the pads 1% are operated simultaneously in like manner from the rotary member 40 driven by the motor 45.

In order to absorb sound and conceal and protect the operating mechanism, a pad 52 of foam iubber may be provided beneath the pads such pad 52 having a series of openings 53 to accommodate the shanks 25.

The housing 11 may be composed of a top 54, a pm'r of ends 55 and two sides 56 with at least one side being provided with a removable panel 57 attached by screws or other detachable fastening means. Insert end members including a strut forming flange 58 are secured by bolts or fasteners 59 to corner brackets to which feet are attached by means of bolts.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a practical relatively simple and inexpensive therapeutic applicator is provided by means of which positive although gentle treatment may be administered for a selected duration and with the operation or pulsations timed in a manner not to interfere with the functioning of the organs of the body but which will compensate for inactivity and contribute to the healthful toning of the localized areas of the body treated by the device.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A therapeutic applicator comprising a central unit, a pair of similar end units, means whereby said end units may be interchangeably attached to and detached from said central unit, a series of applicators disposed in generally parallel relation on said central unit and at an elevation above said end units, a bracket supporting each of said applicators and having a depending shank, a pair of angle members pivotally supported back-to-back in fixed spaced relation and forming a rocker bar, a pivot connecting each of said shanks to said rocker bar, means mounting said rocker bar for oscillation about its longitudinal axis on said central unit, means pivotally connected to and joining said shanks for simultaneous orbital movement, and driving means for producing oscillation of said rocker bar and pivotal movement of said shanks lengthwise of said rocker bar resulting in orbital movement of said applicators.

2. A therapeutic applicator comprising a central unit,

a pair of similar end units, means whereby said end units may be interchangeably attached to and detached from said central unit, a series of applicators disposed in generally parallel relation on said central unit and at an elevation above said end units, a bracket supporting each of said applicators and having a depending shank, a pair of angle members pivotally supported back-to-back in fixed spaced relation and forming a rocker bar, a pivot conmeeting each of said shanks to said rocker bar, means mounting said rocker bar for oscillation about its longitudinal axis on said central unit, means pivotally connected to and joining said shanks for simultaneous orbital movement, driving means for producing oscillation of said rocker bar and pivotal movement of said shanks lengthwise of said rocker bar resulting in orbital movement of said applicators, and means for controlling such operation including its duration.

3. A therapeutic applicator comprising a table having a padded top with a recess intermediate its ends, a plurality of pads disposed along said recess in side-by-side relation, upwardly extending levers supporting said pads at their upper ends, a cross bar pivotally connected to and mounting said levers intermediate their ends, support means along said recess pivotally mounting said cross bar whereby oscillation of the cross bar will cause the levers to move in one plane and pivoting of the levers on the cross bar will cause the levers to move in a plane substantially at right angles to the first to thereby impart orbital movement to said pads, and driving means for imparting orbital movement to the ends of the levers remote from the pads.

4. A therapeutic applicator comprising a table having a resilient pad with one or more openings, a series of side-by-side applicators mounted on said table, such applicators being mounted above and overlying a portion of the table beside an opening, an arm rigidly connected to each of said applicators and extending through the opening therebeneath, a cross bar pivotally connected to said arms intermediate their ends, support means along said recess pivotally mounting said cross bar whereby oscillation of the cross bar will cause the arms to move in one plane and pivoting of the arms on the cross bar will cause the arms to move in a plane substantially at right angles to said one plane, and driving means for imparting orbital movement to the ends of said arms which are remote from said applicators.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,602,196 Iverson Oct. 5, 1926 2,284,445 Pettit May 26, 1942 2,860,628 Stauffer Nov. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,088 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1940 

